British music lesson ideas for the ELT classroom

22 Grand Job – The Rakes

Happy May Day/Labor Day! Here’s a great little tune from indie band The Rakes to use in a lesson about work. They sing about a situation that may ring true for many Brits, poking fun at leaving university then going to work in the city on an average salary (London, in this case), always talking about that girl or guy you like in the office and living for that next trip to the pub!

Follow this up with a discussion about current, future or dream jobs (lots of questions here), or why not show your students some unusual occupations from this article on The Independent and find out which one(s) they would like to do?

You could also link this with London, getting students to plan their own trip to the city by doing some research on the internet (in English, of course!)

Here’s the video and the lyrics for you to sing along to (warning: it’s catchy!)

22 grand job, in the city it’s alright22 grand job, in the city it’s alright22 grand job, in the city that sounds nice, it’s alright, it’s alrightIn the city it’s alright

22 grand job, in the city it’s alright22 grand job, in the city it’s alright22 grand job, in the city that sounds nice, it’s alright, it’s alrightIn the city it’s alright

Girl from work, looks alrightBut the lights are too brightBloke in sales likes her tooWhat am I supposed to do?But he’s earning 28And I’m on 22It’s alright, it’s alrightIn the city it’s alright

22 grand job, in the city it’s alright22 grand job, in the city it’s alright22 grand job, in the city that sounds nice, it’s alright, it’s alrightIn the city it’s alright

Down to Old Street Thursday nightIn the city that sounds niceTalking shop with my colleaguesDid we do the same degree?You’ve said less to me all weekGot to go home, in earlyThat’s alright, that’s alrightIf the money is alright

22 grand job, in the city it’s alright22 grand job, in the city it’s alright22 grand job, in the city that sounds nice, it’s alright, it’s alrightIn the city it’s alright